Google, Microsoft sued over map technology

Google Inc and Microsoft Corp were sued for infringing a Louisiana company's patent with their map websites, which let users navigate street-level views of towns and cities.

Transcenic Inc asked a Delaware District court to prevent Google and Microsoft from continuing to infringe its patent and asked the court to award it damages.

Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Transcenic said in court documents that Google's Streetview and Google Earth and Microsoft's Streetside infringe its technology which covers systems for capturing and navigating within panoramic images.

AOL Inc and its MapQuest mapping website were also named as defendants for Mapquest's 360 View, which allows users to navigate through street-level images.

Google and Microsoft declined to comment. AOL did not return a call for comment.

The case is Transcenic Inc v Google Inc et al, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware, No. 11-582.